Kneeling pad for collapsible chairs



March 1954 w. F. M INTYRE KNEELING PAD FOR COLLAPSIBLE CHAIRS Filed Nov.2, 1951 Invezzio WjZZzbaw EMbInigwe, 6y fi %rn Patented Mar. 9, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNEELING PAD FOR COLLAPSIBLE CHAIRS WilliamF. McIntyre, Quincy, Mass.

Application November 2, 1951, Serial No. 254,547

4 Claims.

This invention relates to kneeling pads for portable chairs of the typefrequently used during religious services in homes, retreats or placesof worship, in funeral homes, or at other indoor or outdoor serviceswhere prayers are offered.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a kneeling pad orcushion adapted to be removably and pivotally attached to the rear legsof a folding chair, so that the pad may be swung downwardly parallel tothe floor during prayer, or swung upwardly between or against the chairlegs where it will be out of the way while the chair is in use or whenit is collapsed for stacking or storage.

A recommended embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, but it will be understood that the structural details of thekneeling pad herein illustrated and described may be varied withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention as defined in the appended gclaims, and that the kneeling pad may be removably attached to chairs ofvarious types.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one type of folding chair equipped withthe improved kneeling pad, the pad being shown in full lines in itsraised position between the chair legs, and in broken lines in itslowered position parallel to the floor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lowered kneeling pad, partly broken away,and also showing the removable clamps carried by the pad and attached toa pair of chair legs illustrated in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration, the improvedkneeling pad or cushion is removably and pivotally attached to the legsII of a folding chair I2 of a. conventional type. It will be apparentthat the particular style or type of the chair is not pertinent to thisinvention, but it is preferred that the chair be collapsible, so that itmay be stacked with similar chairs for storage.

The pad preferably comprises a rectangular channeled metal frame I3comprising side members l4 and end members I5 suitably joined at thecorners of the frame as by welding or otherwise, and a pad or cushion I6of sponge rubber or the like, having its margins embraced by and securedwithin the channeled frame I3. The cushion may have a suitable covering(not 2 shown), if desired. The frame may be oval, or of other contour,as desired.

One side member I4 of the frame has slots I1 adjacent its ends forreceiving the bowed portions H; of a rod I9 which passes through thechanneled frame member and has outwardly projecting ends 20 received inbearings 2| carried by clamps 22, respectively. The rod ends 20 have arelatively tight, frictional fit in the respective bearings 2I, toprovide pivotal connections which permit the pad to be swung upwardlyand downwardly with respect to the floor on which the chair legs IIrest, but which frictionally hold the pad in angularly adjustedposition. Thus. the substantially flat, rectangular pad or cushion I3may be swung upwardly to a position sub,- stantially between the chairlegs, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or downwardly substantially 29parallel to the floor, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1 and asshown more clearly in Fi 3.

The outer corners of the pad or cushion are preferably equipped withspacing supports such as the rubberbuttons 23, applied to the undersideof the frame, for example, to the frame ends I5 as shown in Figs. 2 and4, so that the cushion is supported in spaced, substantially parallelrelation to the floor when lowered, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The clamps 22 are of a size and shape to loosely embrace the chair legsI I, and the clamps are equipped with fastening means such as the wingscrews 24 for removably securing the clamps to the chair legs at thedesired elevation from the bottom of the legs. It is apparent that bytightening the screws 24, the clamps are supported in adjusted positionrelative to the floor on which the chair legs rest. The position of theclamps is usually so adjusted that, when the hinged kneeling pad islowered until the buttons 23 rest upon the floor, the pad or cushion isparallel to the floor, as aforesaid.

When so lowered, the improved pad provides a soft and comfortablecushion on which the knees may rest during prayer. A chair equipped withsuch a. pad thus constitutes in effect a portable pew suitable for usein the home, at funeral parlors, in places of worship, or at outdoorservices.

When the kneeling pad is not to be used, it may be folded upwardlybetween the chair legs as aforesaid, and when the folding chair iscollapsed for stacking, the pad occupies no appreciable extra space, andwould not interfere with the covers which are frequently placed over thefolding chairs during storage. The pad may also be detached from thechair and used separately, whenever desired, and it is apparent thatalternative or equivalent means may be employed for pivotally connectingthe kneeling pad to the clamps 22. Indeed, for most economicalmanufacture, the pad may be attached to one chair leg by a single clampand single hinge connection, in a manner similar to the pivotal mountingof a conventional sun shield in the interior of an automobile.

I claim:

1. A kneeling pad adapted for removable attachment to the legs of achair, the pad comprising a frame, a cushion secured within the frameand having both its upper and its under side exposed, buttons on theunderside of the frame at either end for supporting the lowered pad inspaced relation to the floor, a rod attached to the frame, a pair ofclamps adapted to embrace the respective chair legs, and means pivotallyconnecting the ends of the rod to said clamps.

2-. A kneeling pad as described in claim 1, the connecting meanscomprising bearings carried by the respective clamps, and receiving therespective ends of the rod.

3. A kneeling pad as described in claim 1, the frame being substantiallyrectangular, and the 4 length of the frame being less than the distancebetween the chair legs, and the rod having ends projecting outwardlybeyond the ends of the frame, whereby the pad is disposed substantiallybetween the chair legs when swung to its uppermost position.

4. A kneeling pad adapted for removable and pivotal attachment to atleast one leg of a chair, the pad comprising a cushion, a framesurrounding the periphery of the cushion and leaving the central part ofthe cushion exposed on both upper and under surfaces, a clamp adaptedfor removable attachment to the chair leg, buttons on the under side ofthe frame at either end for supporting the lowered pad in spacedrelation to the floor, and means pivotally connecting the pad to theclamp.

WILLIAM F. McINTYRE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,316,687 Hammond Apr. 13, 1943 2,593,177 Patterson Apr. 15,1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 813 Great Britain 1911

